Gutty Holden falls to Schwartz in title game

BY CRAIG HOLT CRAIGHO44@YAHOO.COM

Thursday

Jul 19, 2007 at 12:01 AM

Though the Holden Little League All-Stars were knocked out of the District 4 Tournament last Saturday by a hard-hitting Joe Schwartz contingent, they did a lot of things right to get to the championship round. Holden won seven games prior to the title tilt and gained a reputation as a balanced ballclub that could level an opponent with either power hitting or potent pitching.

Holden fell to Schwartz, 17-0, in the final at Schwartz' diamond. Ronny Sampson's three-run homer in the first inning put the victors ahead, and they never looked back. Sampson finished with two homers and six RBIs. This proved more than enough to support the effort of pitcher Greg Tzikas, who tossed a two-hitter and fanned 10.

Holden finished the tournament with an impressive 7-2 record. Schwartz improved to 6-1, its only loss coming against the local nine last Friday night. Holden's victory run also included a triumph over Worcester-based Little League icon Jesse Burkett.

"Nobody expected us to get as far as we did, and we're all very proud," Holden manager Doug Jewers said. "Beating Burkett was nice and we gave Schwartz its only loss. Every kid contributed - it was a total team effort."

Though faced with an uphill battle, Holden gutted things out in the final. For example, Holden's number two hitter Kyle Jewers was hit on the head by a pitch in the first inning. The game was stopped and Jewers, with an egg-sized bruise on his head, was forced to the sidelines. It was determined that Jewers could not re-enter the game until he had been taken to a hospital emergency room and been examined by a doctor. Only after this, and with a doctor's note, could Jewers return and play. And Jewers did just that, returning with a note clearing him to play. Jewers re-entered the game and played two positions (catcher, pitcher) in consecutive innings (third and fourth).

"Not to take anything away from Schwartz - they were outstanding - but all our kids were concerned about Kyle

when he went down," Doug Jewers said.

Holden defeated Schwartz, 10-7,

to force an extra game in the doubleelimination

tourney. Holden's balanced

offense was led by Nick Person, who contributed

a key triple and bunt. Casey Strait added

three hits. Ben White and Matt Baker teamed to

get things done on the mound. The game was close all the way.

Holden advanced to the championship round

after it beat Sterling, 5-2, at the Schwartz

field. Holden went ahead for good with a

four-run splurge in the second inning. Kyle Skagerlind and Josh Post combined to handle the pitching duties. Baker swatted two hits. Holden got six hits from the top two slots in the batting order.

The locals began the tournament with a bang, blanking Tom Ash, 1-0, at the Thomas Prince School in Princeton. White was dominant on the mound, twirling a no-hitter. Skagerlind's RBI in the first inning plated Jewers with the game's lone run.

In the next game, the host Tris Speaker League handed Holden its only other setback, a well-played 2-1 affair that was decided in seven innings. Holden trailed, 1-0, early on before knotting the score in the fourth inning.

Holden followed this up with a 13-0 victory over Harvard at Speaker's field. The team won again its next time out when it edged West Boylston, 8-5. Lead-off hitter Scotty Tupper and Jewers combined to collect five hits in six at bats. Holden continued to click leading up to the semifinal with Sterling, knocking off Rutland, 7-2, and Burkett, 6-2. Skagerlind, White, Ben Hakkarainen and Strait hit homers against Rutland. Tyler Hilton rapped a four-bagger against Burkett. The defense was keyed by Jewers, Tupper, Mitch Braunig, Person and Alex Cooper.

Manager Jewers credited his entire team for an outstanding tournament. Assistant coaches included Mark Cooper and Bill Tupper. Bob White helped out with the team's pitchers while Kathy Baker helped keep the squad going with her baking skills, making different goodies for the players after each game.